Murim Login - Chapter 77

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 77
When two men tilt their glasses together, all manner of conversation inevitably spills forth. Money, people, the future….
Among all topics, Elder Brother Jin Ho’s preferred subject was women.
The moment alcohol touched his lips, he became the saddest man in the world, reminiscing about his first love.
‘I met her for the first time in second year of high school.’
‘This bastard’s drunk again.’
‘It was March of a new semester, when flowers bloomed in full splendor. The classroom door opened and there she was….’
‘Your vision must have gone dizzy. And in your ears, the bells of heaven rang out, ding-dong?’
‘Huh? How did you know?’
‘I’ve heard it over a hundred times. Bells of heaven my ass. You’re just making up stories.’
‘You don’t understand love, you fool. Though what would a lifelong bachelor know anyway.’
‘It’s not that I couldn’t date—I chose not to.’
‘All you lifelong bachelors say the same thing. Is there some bachelor’s guidebook or something? You’ve never even had a crush on anyone, have you?’
‘…Well, actually I have.’
‘Ugh, forget it. What’s the point of saying it a hundred or thousand times? You only understand by experiencing it yourself. Pour yourself another drink.’
The reason that drinking session from a few months ago suddenly came to mind now was simple.
‘Elder Brother was right.’
Ding- dong-
I hear it. The bells.
* * *
Song.
An angel with a slender frame and a delicate face, dangling bags full of groceries from both hands, froze upon spotting me.
“Who are you?”
Her voice—alluring yet refreshing—made my mind reel, and her doll-like, finely-chiseled features set my heart pounding wildly.
‘My goodness.’
I swallowed hard. It struck me that my twenty-seven years as a lifelong bachelor had all been leading to this very moment.
My mind was already running simulations.
‘A country house with a yard. Two children and a cat. Perfect.’
The romantic cells that hadn’t stirred even during morning meditation came alive and breathed.
I opened my mouth, trying to speak in the lowest voice possible. Elder Brother Jin Ho, who claimed to be a romance expert, had repeatedly emphasized using a deep baritone with women he fancied.
“I am….”
“This is Jin Tae-kyung. You know Song, right? I mentioned it before—my precious younger brother just re-awakened as a C-rank Hunter.”
“Oh, that’s you? You’re younger than I expected.”
“….”
I stepped hard on Lim Hyuk-jun’s foot as he suddenly interjected, then opened my mouth again.
“Yes. I’m the one who….”
“Why did you buy so much? I have a restaurant reserved elsewhere.”
“Why go there when it’s expensive and the portions are small? We can just grill some meat here.”
“….”
Choi Team Leader. I’m going to kill you with my own hands. I absolutely will.
I fixed each troublemaker with a piercing stare. At my lethal gaze, Kim Butler, who had been about to say something, quietly closed his mouth.
‘This is my only chance.’
Perfect timing with no interruptions. Song was looking at me too. I spoke in an alluring, deep voice.
“Hello. I’m Jin Tae-kyung, twenty-seven years old and newly promoted to C-rank Hunter. My birthday is April 22nd. I’m a Taurus, and my blood type is RH+A. My hobbies are reading and film criticism. I look forward to working with you all.”
“….”
“….”
“….”
A profound silence fell over the room. Finally, her crimson lips parted.
“Ah, yes.”
Song gazed at me with doe-like eyes, completely captivated by my resonant voice. With the added intellectual appeal of my refined hobbies, it was a perfect hundred percent.
‘Thanks, Jin Ho. If this works out, I’ll buy you a drink.’
Just as I was internally cheering, Choi Team Leader stammered his way into the conversation.
“W-why don’t we grab a meal and talk things over slowly? Song-i must be tired from shopping.”
My anger at being interrupted vanished without a trace the moment I heard her name.
“Song-i?”
“Song Song-i. That’s my name.”
Song—or rather, Song Song-i—answered in a composed voice before disappearing into the restaurant. I stood there dazed, repeating her name to myself.
“Song Song-i….”
My goodness, even her name is beautiful. Captivating. Radiant.
She’s exactly my type from head to toe. I was half-dazed at the thought of meeting my destined one when Choi Team Leader’s voice snapped me back to reality.
“Tae-kyung.”
“Yes, yes?”
“Um… never mind. Come in slowly.”
Choi Team Leader let out a deep sigh and turned away. What’s wrong with him?
“Did I do something wrong?”
At my question, Kim Butler, who had been following Choi Team Leader, stopped short.
“Well… hang in there.”
Once the two of them left, only Lim Hyuk-jun and I remained.
“Hyuk-jun. Did I make a mistake?”
“A mistake? No, you committed a crime.”
“A crime?”
“Yes. An unforgivable one at that.”
“Gasp.”
Had I made some blunder? My heart sank, and that’s when Lim Hyuk-jun continued with a stern expression.
“The crime of stealing a woman’s heart.”
“…!”
“You bastard. Even I almost fell for you. Did you see Song’s expression? She was completely smitten. Game over, it’s finished!”
“Really, hyung?”
“Congratulations, Tae-kyung! Let’s grab some noodles!”
“Hyung—!”
Whoosh!
I couldn’t contain my emotion and threw myself into Lim Hyuk-jun’s embrace. He laughed heartily and patted my back.
“How many children will you have? What? Two? No, make it three! Hahahaha!”
* * *
Inside the restaurant.
Choi Team Leader and Kim Butler, who had been pressed against the door, exchanged glances with each other.
“Kim Butler, what do you think?”
“I can only admire the young master’s wise judgment in blocking the sound with a magical item.”
“Right?”
“Indeed.”
The two men glanced back as if they’d made a pact. Song Song-i was busily preparing the meal.
“If Song-i had heard that conversation just now….”
“We would have to pay the penalty even if Song-i withdrew from the Guild immediately.”
“Where does he learn such lines? Could it be that when Kim Butler was young….”
Kim Butler straightened his expression and replied.
“Young master, that remark is quite unpleasant to hear. Such lines didn’t exist even before the Great Cataclysm.”
“Tae-kyung, you’ve never been in a relationship, right?”
“If I haven’t been single my whole life, then I’m not Kim Butler anymore—I’m Park Butler.”
“Hunter Lim also has issues.”
“It’s somewhat awkward to say, but I wanted to put a muzzle on him.”
“Hunter Lim, you’re unmarried, right?”
“Unfortunately, I’m married. With two daughters at that.”
“How on earth…?”
“That’s a mystery to me as well.”
The Guild’s future looks bleak.
It was at that very moment the two men were shaking their heads with dark expressions.
“Excuse me.”
A voice from behind.
Song Song-i, wearing an apron, stood with her hands on her hips, looking at the two men.
“What are you two whispering about so much? Not lifting a finger to help with the preparations.”
“Ah, Song-i. Well, you see.”
“We’ll clean up after the meal.”
“Never mind that. The meal’s ready, so come eat. And call Uncle Lim and….”
Song Song-i continued with a sigh.
“That Taurus guy too.”
* * *
Before the grill, properly heated.
I opened my mouth with a solemn expression.
“Song-i.”
Song-i, who had just picked up the tongs and scissors, paused.
“Pardon?”
“Please, let me grill it.”
“It’s fine. You can help with cleanup later instead.”
“Grilling meat is my hobby, and cutting it is my specialty.”
“…Wasn’t it reading and film criticism?”
“That’s merely the tip of the iceberg.”
The moment my foot brushed against Lim Hyuk-jun’s under the table, supporting fire came immediately.
“Song doesn’t know this, but this guy grills meat like an absolute master. One time he managed five grills simultaneously, and when you bite into the meat, the juices just—whoosh—flood your mouth. Your mind just explodes with fireworks!”
I added my own dignified comment.
“His zodiac sign is Taurus.”
“Exactly! A Taurus man, you see, grills meat wonderfully, has a pure heart, and is so steadfast….”
Crack.
Choi Team Leader set down the broken wooden chopstick and muttered.
“My apologies. I couldn’t control my strength.”
“Here you go.”
The way Song Song-i handed over fresh chopsticks as if she’d been waiting for it—my heart sank. Much as I hate to admit it, they made a stunning pair. Beautiful woman, handsome man. They looked absolutely perfect together.
‘Surely not. It can’t be.’
I tried to deny it, but my mood grew heavy.
I placed the meat on the grill with a gloomy expression.
Sizzle.
What was Song Song-i’s relationship with Choi Team Leader?
Sizzle.
They definitely knew each other from before. They wouldn’t be founding Guild members otherwise.
Sizzle.
Now that I think about it, that Choi Team Leader is suspicious. He’s been interjecting into the conversation, and why’d he break a perfectly good chopstick just to break the flow?
Sizzle.
A B-rank Hunter claiming he couldn’t control his strength—that’s nonsense. Was he showing off how strong he is in front of Song Song-i? I can tie knots with steel chopsticks….
“Excuse me.”
I lifted my head abruptly. Clear, lake-like eyes were staring directly at me.
“It’s burning.”
“Yes, yes?”
“The meat. It’s burning.”
“Oh!”
Sizzle sizzle.
I frantically flipped the meat, but it was already too late.
“Let me do it.”
“No, I will.”
“Since this is your first time here today, it’s only right that I grill the meat and serve it to you properly.”
Goodness, she wasn’t just angelic in appearance.
‘Ah, Song Song-i. You’re a living textbook of virtue.’
I found myself falling for her all over again at her silken kindness.
Scrape. Scrape.
Sizzle.
Taking the tongs from me, she skillfully grilled and sliced the meat.
I watched her in a daze.
‘Even the way she grills meat is beautiful.’
Her hair loosely pinned up in a bun, her pale, slender hands moving busily—every gesture seemed to radiate light.
“Mm.”
After some time had passed, she looked up from the meat with a careful expression and spoke.
“It’s done. Could you hand me a plate?”
“Sure.”
She swiftly transferred the cooked meat into a disposable container. I’d noticed it from the start—this wasn’t the work of someone who’d only done it once or twice.
“You must have done this many times before.”
“Yes.”
“Did you work at a meat restaurant?”
“Yes.”
“Wow. For how long?”
“Two years.”
“Really? When was that?”
“During high school.”
“Huh, not many kids worked part-time jobs back then.”
“Right.”
How wonderful. Her strong sense of self-reliance was exactly my type.
Her answers seemed oddly brief, but it was probably just my imagination. I made sure to offer plenty of enthusiastic responses.
‘The conversation itself is going smoothly.’
Jin Ho had told me that finding common ground was the key to building attraction. I spoke with genuine enthusiasm.
“That’s similar to me. I’d work double, even triple shifts some days. One time, after work ended, I came home and….”
“Ah, yes. But, um.”
“Yes?”
“You seem a bit too close. The grill is still hot….”
Without realizing it, I’d leaned my entire body toward Song Song-i.
“It’s fine. A little burn won’t hurt. Haha!”
“Still, you should be careful.”
“Really, it’s okay. You don’t need to worry.”
“….”
For some reason, Song Song-i’s expression had grown darker. Could it be.
‘Is she worried I might get hurt?’
It was shocking. She cared about me this much, even though we’d only just met today.
And now I was certain. She was interested in me too.
Jin Ho’s voice echoed in my ears like an auditory hallucination from somewhere.
‘Do you know what the most important virtue is for becoming a couple? It’s courage.’
‘Tae-kyung, remember this. The courageous man wins the beauty.’
Elder Brother, I think I finally understand. And thank you.
‘That’s right. Let’s be courageous.’
My heart trembled as I gazed at her. What I was about to say was something I’d never uttered in my entire twenty-seven years of life.
“Song Song-i. Starting today, let’s be—”
In that instant, Choi Team Leader shot to his feet and bellowed.
“Day one! Today marks the first day our Hunter Jin Tae-kyung joins our Guild family! Kim Butler?”
“Yes, young master! The liquor is ready!”
Kim Butler, usually so composed, filled the soju glasses with lightning speed.
Splash, splash, splash!
Not a gentle pour—a torrential deluge.
I was exasperated watching him waste half the bottle, but I had something crucial I needed to say.
“Song Song-i. Let me say this again. We—”
Choi Team Leader thrust his glass high into the air.
“To our Guild!”
“Song Song-i, ignore him and listen to me.”
Song Song-i responded.
“To our Guild!”
“….”
She didn’t hear me, did she? That must be it. She couldn’t have heard.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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